Upsurge in 'Noncombat' Deaths Among U.S. Troops

[Robbien]

Source: Editors and Publishers

NEW YORK For several weeks, E&P has documented what appears to be a surge in non-combat deaths among U.S. troops in Iraq. These fatalities come from vehicle accidents, illness, suicides and friendly fire. The military always states that they are under investigation and it is local newspapers that usually first get word, often from families, about what might have really happened.

Now today comes confirmation of these concerns.

A team of U.S. army safety experts are in Iraq studying this trend, which has coincided with extended 15-month deployments for troops, a senior military official said this week.

. . .

According to Pentagon figures, 29 soldiers died in August for non-hostile reasons, and another 23 died of non-combat causes in September. Shockingly, this compares with seven in August last year and 11 in September 2006.



Read more: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003659130

[Demeter]

1. That's What Happens With Slaves When They Are Abused

Death looks preferable. And these slaves are armed with deadly weapons.

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. A predictable consequence of war and occupation.

Nothing that couldn't have been predicted. I detest Bush & Co and hold them directly responsible for each and every death.

[Eagle_Eye]

3. Bush holds the ultimate responsibility for most of the deaths

Vehicle accidents can happen anywhere but ...

Suicides and friendly fire brought on by an illegal war in Iraq go straight to bush who got us into this mess in the first place.

I hope our Democrat candidate for President hammers the republicans with bush's mistakes at every opportunity. Bush is a millstone around the necks of all republicans, and we can't let them forget it.

[formercia]

4. It depends who is the fragger and fragee.

That knife cuts both ways.

[Eagle_Eye]

8. If it is a suicide, the fragger is the same as the fragiee

If one of our troops commits suicide because they have been sent to Iraq, I still look at it as little george's fault.

[formercia]

10. Junior and a lot of other people.

What I worry about is the penchance to eliminate those that might bear witness to their crimes.

Many 'suicides' may not be what they first appear.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Excellent reporting by E&P -- based on accounts in small-town newspapers. K&R

[Evergreen Emerald]

6. they re-define combat deaths and (drum roll please): the surge is working

I do not believe anything they tell us.

[redqueen]

7. Why did republicans fight so hard to make this happen?

Ham said morale remains high, but added, "I think there is a general consensus, and several leaders have said this, that for the army 15 months is a long hard tour. It's hard on the soldiers, it's hard on the families."

Why do they hate the troops?

[TexasLawyer]

9. kick n/t